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Grove mother charged with child neglect

China Linn Prater, 21, who fled from authorities with her 8-month-old malnourished daughter, didn't seemed concerned with the infant's medical condition when she was arrested, according to a probable cause affidavit. The 8-month-old girl weighed just 12 pounds.

BY SHEILA STOGSDILL •
Published: April 20, 2013

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JAY — A Delaware County deputy said a Grove woman who fled from authorities with her 8-month-old, malnourished daughter didn't seemed concerned with the infant's medical condition when she was arrested, according to a probable cause affidavit.

China Linn Prater

China Linn Prater, 21, was charged Thursday in Delaware County District Court with child neglect. She is free on a $100,000 bail.

An Amber Alert was issued for Carolinn Altaffer on April 12. Prater brought the infant to Integris Grove General Hospital after hours of negotiations with authorities.

The infant “was very thin and small,” Sgt. Michael Halter, with the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, stated in the affidavit.

Carolinn's eyes were “set very deep in the sockets,” the affidavit states.

“China did not seem concerned about the situation,” Halter wrote. “China was very calm at the time.”

She was arrested in the emergency room, the affidavit states.

Sheriff Harlan Moore said the infant weighed about 12 pounds when she was taken into custody. She was transferred to St. Francis Children's Hospital in Tulsa, where she is improving, Moore said Friday.

Authorities still are looking for the infant's father, Ronald Altaffer, 23. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at (918) 253-4531.